TBS

A typical shot in a typical bus of the Triolet Bus Service.

 

I’ve been using TBS for the past 11 years & here are a few of my observations:

• Uncomfortable seats (some are custom-spaced for midgets) with torn covers & poems written over them.
  
• Bus suspensions are literally built to be kick-ass! There are SIX speed bumps in Triolet until/from my bus-stop! Which are actually ineffective as all buses go over them at full speed…
  
• Rude bus conductors. No manners when talking to passengers (especially the elderly), not to mention their dressing style. They all carry that why-am-I-doing-this-job look…
  
• Bus conductors stealing money off bus fares… I came across one just last week. Collecting only Rs 10 from passengers & giving no ticket.
  
• Drivers who race on the road over-speeding, braking at the last moment & starting their buses while passengers are still looking for a seat.
  
• When the buses drive at full speed, the vibrations of the bus chassis cause such a terrifying noise that you’d think the bus is going to disintegrate at the next turn!
  
• Despite that reckless driving, I’ve never actually been involved in a bus accident. No major break-downs as well… Got to admit that the buses are reliable despite all the abuse.
  
• Unlike other buses, all TBS’ buses have large window openings. Very handy during summer.
  
• Placement of the bell is sometimes way too high for small people & children.
  
• Lack of buses. This is massively annoying, especially in the morning. At 6.00 am, you have around 10 Express buses going to Port Louis. After 7.30 am, only one. You usually don’t catch a bus when you really need one…
  
• Cockroaches. Usually the small ones. Thanks to people having their daily breakfast/lunch/snacks in the bus... (thanks Siganus Sutor)

 

TBS bus stand at La Gare Le Nord (Immigration Traffic Centre), Port Louis. Taken with N8.

 

Related:

• Triolet Bus Service by Dakshinee.
  
• Triolet, the longest village & TBS, wat a bus service! by Yashvin